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Chrissy Carter finds peace during the holidays

5 Tips for Holiday Bliss

The holiday season has always been my favorite time of year. When I reflect on my childhood, I remember the family traditions that made me feel at home within myself, such as decorating our house, helping my mother cook a special holiday meal and wrapping our homemade gifts. Even today, I love the holidays because they celebrate what matters most in life.Despite my healthy dose of holiday spirit, I’m often forced to face the (holiday) music: Rather than savoring the season, we can find ourselves slipping into survival mode as we try to keep our heads above water. In the midst of it all, our beloved rituals are thrown overboard to keep the life raft afloat.We may not be able to lighten our social calendar or shorten our to-do lists, but we can learn how to remain calm in the midst of the madness. So I want to share several of my favorite ways for keeping holiday stress at bay and staying connected to the magic of the season.1. Connect to the momentSome of my fondest memories from childhood involve helping my mother in the kitchen during the holidays. Cooking can be a therapeutic release, giving us mental space and clarity by getting us out of our heads, engaging our senses and helping us connect to the moment.Another way to engage in the holiday spirit is to create homemade decorations for your house, such as fragrant pomander balls.2. Sacred SpaceIt can be challenging for us to stay grounded when we’re feeling overwhelmed, so I encourage you to create a space in your home filled with photos and special objectsthat remind you of what’s most important in our lives.Each day, light a candle, and spend a few moments focusing on the significance of your display. Connect to each object, and contemplate how it makes you feel.3. Gift wrappingWrapping gifts can feel like a chaotic race to the finish of the holiday season, but with a little planning and some simple supplies, like craft paper, kitchen twine and a small bunch of wintergreens, this to-do can become an opportunity to connect with the creative process and create a natural, beautiful presentation for your gifts. Instead of a chore, think of wrapping as a hands-on craft project that can be fun and also rewarding when you see the faces of the recipients.4. Mindful meditationWherever our lives take us, we can reap the benefits of mindful meditation by following these simple steps:Close your eyes and take a few moments to observe your breathing.Scan your body and relax where you can.Visualize the special place you created in your home.See that space in your heart, and allow each photo and object to root you more deeply in what ís most important to you.Fill yourself with the positive emotions that arise from contemplating the things you love.5. Restorative yogaRestorative yoga invites the body to practice what it does naturally: renew. This type of yoga can initiate our relaxation response, redirecting our bodies’ energy to their housekeeping chores, such as digestion and elimination.The Floating Pose can help relieve our feelings of anxiety because when the front of the body faces the floor, it creates a feeling of safety and cues the nervous system to relax. When you’re overwhelmed, this pose will meet you where you are.A Restorative Twist stretches the muscles of the lateral torso and rib cage, encouraging a freer breath.And the Reclined Bound Angle opens the front of the body, inviting us to surrender to relaxation and inner calm. Each of these poses can be held for up to 10 minutes.Chrissy Carter is a yoga instructor and lifestyle expert. She teaches yoga and trains teachers at YogaWorks in New York City, as well as on GaiamTV.com and on two popular Gaiam DVD. Find our more about her work, life and inspirations at chrissycarter.com

Giving

9 Great Gifts That Are Experiences

Research shows that when we spend our money on experiences instead of objects, the happiness we feel as a result is both stronger and longer lasting.When you give a gift in the form of an experience, it includes not only the anticipation of the event and the event itself, but also a lasting memory to savor. Here are nine ideas for unconventional gifts that friends and family will treasure.1. Tickets to a performanceTickets to a movie, play, musical or comedy show can be a great gift for recipient of any age. It’s also a way of spending time doing something fun together. If you really want to splurge, consider season tickets to your favorite performing arts organization.2. Massage or spa servicesPerhaps you know someone who is often stressed and always working. A gift certificate for a massage or facial is a wonderful way to help that person decompress this holiday season and enjoy a little self-care.3. Overnight getawayIf you want to get something very special for yourself and significant other, or for another couple such as your parents, a weekend or overnight at a boutique hotel or B&B is a thoughtful and generous gift.4. Dance classGive a friend or loved-one a kick by signing them up for dance classes. Maybe it’s something they’ve had in mind but have not gotten around to doing yet. There are so many kinds to choose from, from ballroom to ballet.5. Cooking classCooking lessons of all stripes are available these days at places like Whole Foods, Sur la Table and elsewhere. Sign up for yourself and a friend—that way you can experience the fun together. Then get together later and try to recreate the meal at home. (It’s a gift that keeps on giving.)6. A National Parks passDo you have friends or family who love trekking to National Parks? You can purchase a year pass of full family access to America’s national parks, wildlife refuges and forests for just $80.7. Guided tourIf you know someone who just moved to a new city or town, consider buying them a guided architectural tour of the downtown, or some other tour special to that city, such as a food tour or factory tour. Heck, why wait until someone moves? Most of us would love to learn more about the place we live, even if we’ve been there for decades.8. Personal chefWho wouldn’t like a professional chef to drop by at the end of the day and whip up a home-cooked meal? You can give the gift of an at-home date night for someone too busy to cook; there are even websites that help you find local chefs' contact info.9. AdventureIt's no simple task to give the gift of adventure. But consider buying a class or lesson for someone who would never buy it for themselves—something a little wild, like surfing, or swinging from a flying trapeze a la Cirque du Soleil. You might give someone a thrill, or even a new passion in life.

Practice

Give Happy

Before you go racing out to the mall to pick up a new oversized reindeer sweater for Aunt Sally and a set of drums for your 4-year-old nephew (fun for him, not so much for your brother and his wife), here is a holiday shopping guide based on the science of happiness that might help.The gift of happiness?Scientifically, the greatest predictor of happiness is, by far, social support—the breadth, depth and meaning in your relationships. So consider giving gifts that are activities, like a special evening at the local ice rink complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Unlike a physical gift, this experience gives you a chance to spend quality time with friends or family and strengthen your bond. The key is to use these moments to really connect and converse more deeply than you normally do with other people. This reminds our brains of the deep social support that fuels our own happiness as well as theirs.Encourage savoringThe difference between momentary pleasure and long-term positive memory is based on the ability to savor, or mentally return to, an event or feeling. A gift that causes a spike in happiness at the moment but that you can’t remember even a week later is analogous to going on a fantastic vacation that you won’t recall. When shopping this season, think of gifts that will continue to benefit the recipient. For example, for your spouse, you could buy a personalized pillow with important dates in your relationship that will literally help that person savor special moments every time he or she sees it. (We have one of these!) For a friend, perhaps buy him or her a coffee mug with a picture of something meaningful so the day starts with a positive reminder—the key is to pick a present that will continue to focus the recipient’s attention on positive, happy moments.Avoid the deficit trapIt’s normal to sometimes wish that we could give a better present than we can afford. Stanford professor Carol Dweck, Ph.D., calls the phenomenon of focusing on what we don’t have “deficit mindset,” and it robs the present (and our presents) of joy.Instead, we should cultivate a positive mindset by focusing on the facts that we have someone whom we care about so much that we want to give him or her a nice gift and more resources than some people in this world. Receiving is as important as givingWe’ve all heard that it’s better to give than receive, but the saying misses an important corollary: How you receive matters (a lot) to the giver’s happiness.If you receive well, your reaction to a gift can actually be a gift in and of itself. The problem is that many of us can’t receive gifts without our brains producing negative thoughts such as, “I’m not worthy of this present” or “Now I feel indebted to her.” Think about it: We’re happier when others are excited about our gifts and respond with joy and gratitude. So by subtly changing our ego-driven thoughts of guilt to “I am so grateful to her not only for the present, but also the friendship it represents,” we fuel greater levels of happiness for both the giver and ourselves.That way, when Aunt Barbara surprises you with a matching reindeer sweater, you can be genuinely grateful for her love—and the adorable pictures the two of you can take together to cherish for years to come.Shawn Achor, author ofThe Happiness Advantageand the newly releasedBefore Happiness, is one of the world's leading experts on human potential. Michelle Gielanis an expert on the science of positive communication and how to use it to fuel success. She formerly served as the anchor of two national newscasts at CBS News. Together, Shawn and Michelle createdGoodThink, a positive psychology consulting firm.

Practice

7 Ways to Be Happier Now

Happiness is about the journey, not about destination; it’s about how you live your life each day. Some articles you may have missed with a few ideas for adding a little more gratitude, mindfulness and joy into your usual routine.1. Practice self-nurturingTake a yoga class, dance in your kitchen to favorite music, get a mani/pedi or go for a walk in nature. Actively investing in your physical well-being can make your thoughts about yourself more nurturing, too. Learn more ways to focus on being the best you.2. Have a values check-inDo you have a feeling of meaning and purpose in your life? This quiz will help you find out. If you don’t like your score, you might want work on nurturing your relationships, being compassionate and giving back to others—all of which have been shown to have an impact on our own wellbeing. Take the quiz now.3. Look at Mondays in a new wayWhat would your day look like if you felt fabulous at the end of it? What project can you tackle on Monday to start your week super-charged and set the tone for a wonderful week? Don’t dread Mondays, show ‘em some love instead. Put the fun back in your Monday now.4. Call in the superfoodsCertain foods like olive oil, nuts, sweet potatoes and kale have been shown to contain mood-boosting nutrients. Not to mention these ingredients are incredibly healthy for you, and taste delicious when cooked with a little finesse. Four easy-to-make recipes.5. Tap into hopeIn order to be truly happy, you need something to hope for. We have 31 ways you can rediscover a greater sense of hope in your life.6. Find a happy highlight of the dayTake a few minutes every day to write down one positive experience that occurred over the past 24 hours. Enjoy the positive emotions from reliving that event, and look for patterns you can repeat to bring about more happiness. Read more on achieving happiness despite everyday challenges.7. Wake up happyTune in to experts’ advice on how to start your day happy. Don’t get stuck ruminating on negative thoughts. Take responsibility for your own happiness by putting yourself in situations that bring you great joy and choosing love over fear. Try this positive mantra: “You are doing your best.” Sign-up for our free Wake Up Happy! series.

Practice

Gift 10

What is gift10?When you give the gift of Live Happy magazine you give a yearlong gift of meaning, health, purpose and love. A "gift10" is the act of giving 10 one-year subscriptions to Live Happy magazine. With each complete gift10 you give, you will receive an exclusive gift10 pin and your name on our gift10 list!Each recipient will receive either a post card or an email (your choice) letting them know you have given them a subscription to Live Happy magazine.How do I give 10?You can give 10 one-year subscriptions of the digital edition (for tablet devices) of Live Happy magazine for $99.90.You can give 10 one-year subscriptions of the printed version of Live Happy magazine which includes a free digital edition for $179.50.You can give a combination of 10 print and digital subscriptions (price will vary on your combination).I want to give less than 10 gift subscriptions. How can I give a single subscription?If you don't have 10 people in mind, you are free togive any amount of print and digital subscriptions. Each print subscription is $17.95 while each digital subscription is $9.95. Find out who made the gift10 list by giving the gift of happiness. Get your name on the list by giving 10 today!

Philanthropy

Top 10 Most Charitable States

This is the time of year when we are reminded to be thankful for thegood things in our lives, and to try to help those lessfortunate. Research shows thataltruistic people are not only morelikely to actively engage in theircommunities, but generally havea higher state of wellbeing.Utah gives backAccording to a recentnationwide Gallup poll,the good people of Utahare leading the chargein charitable acts, with nearly half ofall Utahns polled saying they havedonated money and volunteered tohelp a charity within the last month.America gives backAnd while Americans across the boardare more likely to donate money to anorganization than time, we still get agold star when it comes to giving back to our communities when compared to therest of the world.You can give back, tooHappiness and kindness go hand inhand, so give a little extra this holidayseason, and feed your soul.

Live Happy magazine cover with Kristin Chenoweth

Lifestyle

The December Issue of Live Happy Is Available!

This month, we give you none other than Broadway powerhouse/adorable holiday sprite Kristin Chenoweth! Check out our in-depth feature stocked with stunning photographs—we've captured Kristin at her best. She explains how a little girl with a big voice from Oklahoma was able to power her way to happiness and success in the toughest business around. Also in this issue, as we get closer to the holidays, we focus on themes of Gratitude and Giving. Actress Danielle Fishel shares her happiness journey. Our 'Sage' this month is comedy impresario Caroline Hirsch, of Caroline's on Broadway. Gretchen Rubin explains how planning ahead can increase the peace over the holidays. Get inspired with gift ideas that are sure to make your loved ones happy. Yoga expert Chrissy Carter shows us how to stay mindful over the holidays. Read about a former corporate lawyer who followed her heart and created a business making and selling artisanal lollipops! Learn the ground-breaking science behind gratitude. Plus all the regular features you've come to expect, including stunning color photos and illustrations throughout the issue. Find Live Happy at selected Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Food City, Shaw's, Hudson News, Target and other locations—or purchase a print subscription, and get the digital edition for free!

Giving

30 Days of Gratitude

1. “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ―Maya Angelou 2. Deliver hot meals to the hungry. 3. Listen to “The Thanksgiving Song” by Adam Sandler. 4. Read 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik. 5. Watch It’s a Wonderful Life. 6. "Having gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." —William Arthur Ward 7. Give to a Salvation Army Angel Tree. 8. Listen to “Thankful” by Kelly Clarkson. 9. Read Thanks!: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert A. Emmons. 10. Watch Forrest Gump. 11. “I feel a very unusual sensation—if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude.” —Benjamin Disraeli 12. Donate a turkey. 13. Listen to “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. 14. Read and write in Even Happier: A Gratitude Journal for Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment by Tal Ben-Shahar. 15. Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. 16. “When you are grateful—when you can see what you have—you unlock blessings to flow in your life.” —Suze Orman 17. Handwrite a note to someone expressing thanks for being in your life. 18. Listen to “Thank You” by Dido. 19. Read What Makes You Grateful?: Voices From Around The World by Anne Kubitsky. 20. Watch It Could Happen to You. 21. “Thank you, emails that say, ‘You have successfully unsubscribed from these emails,’ for completely missing the point.” —Jimmy Fallon 22. Set out a jar and have everyone in your home write one thing they’re grateful for every morning. Review them together at the end of the day. 23. Listen to “Gratitude” by Earth, Wind & Fire. 24. Read My Gratitude Soup: Create Your Own by Olivia Rosewood. 25. Watch A Christmas Carol. 26. “At the age of 18, I made up my mind to never have another bad day in my life. I dove into an endless sea of gratitude from which I've never emerged.” —Patch Adams 27. Learn how to say “thank you” in multiple languages. 28. Listen to “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” by Travis Tritt. 29. Read Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss. 30. Buy a beautiful gift book about happiness for a friend or family member.

Well-Being

5 Ways to Kickstart Your Creativity

I’ve found that when I’m feeling creative, I’m happy. So on those days when I need a booster shot of creativity to lift my spirits, I have several go-to strategies that work especially well.1. Visit a LocalLibrary.Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved the feeling of discovery and possibility that I get from seeing all those books. While I’m there, I check out art books. These can be very expensive in book stores, so I check them out from the library for free.2. Enjoy Beautiful Smells.Maybe it’s the scent of a fabulous perfume (I have to admit, I’ve become a perfume nut) or the homey scent of vanilla or clean towels, but a lovely smell connects me to the present moment in a way that helps me think in new ways.3. Jump up and down a few times.When I behave in an energetic, childlike way, I see the world differently.4. Wander through a shop.I dislike shopping, but sometimes I enjoy going into a well-designed store. One woman told me about her ingenious way of giving herself a creative lift: Whenever she goes to a museum, she buys postcards of her favorite artwork and places them in a basket in her hallway. Every week or so, she pulls out a handful and places them in her car.When she’s stuck in traffic, she enjoys one while she’s waiting.5. Creative “Bootcamp”Other people I’ve talked to put themselves into a creativity “boot camp,” like finishing a scrapbook in a weekend, trying a new recipe every day for a week or spending an afternoon rearranging furniture. The intensity of doing something that requires you to think creatively in a short period of time helps stoke your creative fires. (And, if your family’s willing, have them join you for your creativity boot camp—a creative family is a happy family.)If you’re having trouble thinking of something creative to do, ask yourself: “What activities did I love when I was a child?” If you enjoyed something then, chances are, you’ll probably enjoy a version of it now. One friend loved to color, so one day, she bought a coloring book and a set of markers. Now she gains so much happiness from coloring.Or you may discover a new creative outlet through a class. Whether it’s learning how to play an instrument, taking great photos or painting, when you take a class, you’ll gain skills, meet people who share your interest and be held accountable for making progress.As an adult, it’s easy to think you’re not creative. But, trust me, finding ways to bring creativity into your life will boost your happiness. Because when you think in creative ways, you’re having fun, being intellectually stimulated, feeling satisfied—your overall quality of life improves.Gretchen Rubin is the bestselling author ofThe Happiness ProjectandHappier at Home, and is currently working on her latest book, scheduled for release in 2015. She is considered one of the most influential writers on happiness today, and has become an in-demand speaker and keynoter.You can read about Gretchen's adventures and habits on her blog atGretchenRubin.com.

Well-Being

What a night at the Happiness Hall of Fame!

Deborah Heisz, COO of Live Happy, and I were thrilled to attend the Happiness Hall of Fame event last weekend. Our own Jeff Olson, founder of Live Happy, was one of the inductees being honored—and there is no one more deserving than Jeff, who has dedicated so much of his life to helping others and giving back to humanity.Happiness was in the airThis event had a magical feel to it, from the scenic Stanford University campus to the tremendous friendliness and openness of the other inductees and guests.Each inductee had a chance to share an insight about their mission to spread happiness, and about what drives them personally. Every participant inspired us and gave us a glimpse into a new world of possibilities in which we simply choose to be happy—to spread happiness and incorporate it into everything we do.Jeff gave an extraordinary talk; he has a way of taking scientific findings about happiness and simplifying them into clear ideas that everyone can (and should!) apply in their daily life.A Who’s Who of HappinessIn addition to Jeff Olson, there was a dynamic mixture of inductees, including Roko Bellic, the award-winning filmmaker of the movie Happy;celebrity chef Michael Chiarello; Live Happy columnist and best-selling co-author of Profit from the Positive, Dr. Senia Maymin; and NFL three-time Super Bowl winner Bubba Paris (both Seniaand Bubba will be featured onWake Up Happy, our exclusive series of freetele-summits).One of the pieces of wisdom I took away from the event is a clever new way to think about happiness. This came from Mike Duffy, the founder of the Hall of Fame, who has researched positive psychology for the past 20 years. He told me, “Happiness boils down to this simple formula: P + P = H.” Translated, it means Purpose plus Progress = Happiness.I love that—what about you?Kym Yancey

5 Tips for Holiday Bliss

9 Great Gifts That Are Experiences

Give Happy

7 Ways to Be Happier Now

Gift 10

Top 10 Most Charitable States

30 Days of Gratitude

5 Ways to Kickstart Your Creativity

What a night at the Happiness Hall of Fame!

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